The University Unfettered: Public Higher Education in an Age of Disruption, by Ian McNeely

The University Unfettered: Public Higher Education in an Age of Disruption

by former Junior Fellow Ian F. McNeely (1998 - 2001)

The University Unfettered reveals how America's public universities have not only survived but thrived through unprecedented challenges—from financial crises to pandemics—by staying true to their core mission of serving the public good. Through an insider's look at one pioneering institution, this groundbreaking book answers the questions that matter most: How do universities spend their money? What drives educational priorities? Who really makes the decisions? With unparalleled insight into how public research universities actually work, this timely and optimistic account champions the institutions that educate the vast majority of America's college students. 

Published in May 2025 by Columbia University Press.